Epithelia Use Butyrophilin-like Molecules to Shape Organ-Specific ?? T Cell Compartments.

ABSTRACT: Many body surfaces harbor organ-specific ?? T cell compartments that contribute to tissue integrity. Thus, murine dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) uniquely expressing T cell receptor (TCR)-V?5 chains protect from cutaneous carcinogens. The DETC repertoire is shaped by Skint1, a butyrophilin-like (Btnl) gene expressed specifically by thymic epithelial cells and suprabasal keratinocytes. However, the generality of this mechanism has remained opaque, since neither Skint1 nor DETCs are evolutionarily conserved. Here, Btnl1 expressed by murine enterocytes is shown to shape the local TCR-V?7(+) ?? compartment. Uninfluenced by microbial or food antigens, this activity evokes the developmental selection of TCR??(+) repertoires. Indeed, Btnl1 and Btnl6 jointly induce TCR-dependent responses specifically in intestinal V?7(+) cells. Likewise, human gut epithelial cells express BTNL3 and BTNL8 that jointly induce selective TCR-dependent responses of human colonic V?4(+) cells. Hence, a conserved mechanism emerges whereby epithelia use organ-specific BTNL/Btnl genes to shape local T cell compartments.

SUBMITTER: Di Marco Barros R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5037318 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature